Package of surgical gloves



Oct. 24, 1961 s. J. STANLEY 3,005,545

PACKAGE OF SURGICAL GLOVES Filed Aug. 27, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi 2 INVENTOR.

SMNLE'YJZ'YJZZ/YLEY Oct. 24, 1961 s. J. STANLEY PACKAGE OF SURGICAL GLOVES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1959 INVENTOR. SM/VZEYJZYJTA/VZEY Oct. 24, 1961 s. J. STANLEY PACKAGE 0F suacxcm. GLOVES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 27, 1959 3 l7 ll/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII) I JIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII[I7 @IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR. SHAKE) 1Z4) JM/VAEY BY I z O United StatcsPatent 3,005,545 PACKAGE F SURGICAL GLOVES Stanley Jay Stanley, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Stanley Supply Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 27,1959, Ser. No. 836,369 4 Claims. ((11. 206-632) This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in the packaging of sterilized articles and, more particularly, to an improved protective package for maintaining sterilized articles in a contamination-free condition between the time of sterilization and the time of actual use.

At the present time, surgical gloves are sterilized prior to use and it is customary, as a part of the sterilizing technique, to enclose a pair of gloves in a wrapper or envelope made of muslin, or other similar piece of cloth, so that the gloves and cloth will form a unitary packet which can be taken from the sterilizer to the operating room in a convenient manner and without danger of contamination. In the operating room the cloth wrapping is opened and the surgical nurse removes one glove, holding it open by the cuff so that the surgeon can plunge his scrubbed hand directly into the glove. The surgeon usually inserts his hands into the surgical gloves with fairly forceful downward movement, having liberally applied powder as a lubricant to his hands. Usually, the nurse also will have sprinkled a liberal coating of powder upon interior surfaces of the gloves. Then, the second glove is removed from the cloth wrapper or envelope and put on in the same manner. However, the removal of the gloves from the standard type ofmuslin glove envelope has presented a problem, since the ungloved hand often comes in contact with the edge of the envelope during removal of the first glove, and, there is danger of accidentally contaminating the second glove without realizing it. p p

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide novel means and methods for packaging surgical gloves which will permit essentially thorough quick sterilization and will protect the sterilized gloves against contamination during subsequent storage and handling.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means and methods for packing surgical gloves which are simple and essentially economical in the sense that the original cost of the packing material is comparatively low and the packaging material can be reused many times thereby eliminating waste.

it is also an object of the present invention to provide means and methods for packaging surgical gloves which will support each glove in such a manner that the glove can be conveniently donned by the scrub nurse or surgeon without accidental and inadvertent contamination.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a package of the type stated in which the surgical gloves are supported in such a manner that the second glove of the pair may be fully protected from accidental contamination while the first glove is being removed and put on by the scrub nurse or surgeon.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, 'and combination of scribed and pointed out in' the claims.

parts presently de- Patented Oct. 24, 1961 In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. '1 is a perspective view of the sterile glove package constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sterile glove package with the outer wrapper removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sterile glove package in initially unfolded position;

FIG, 4 is a perspective view of the sterile glove package in partially opened position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the cuff-holding mechanism forming a part of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 4, the thicknesses of various plies of material being exaggerated for purposes of clarity and illustration.

Referring now in more detail and byreference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a sterile glove package comprising an outer rectangular wrapper formed from a relatively heavy sheet 1 of parchmentized paper. The paper used to make the wrapper is a tightly laid paper-stock which freely permits the passage of steam under pressure but does not permit the passage of air under normal atmospheric conditions. It, therefore, presents a highly efiicient barrier to bacterial and viral contamination while, at the same time, permitting very efficient access of sterilizing steam to the material enclosed therein.

Provided for disposition within the sheet 1 is a folding packet 2 formed of a relatively thin but densely compact sheet. of white polished cardboard 3 which is initially of oblong rectangular form and is subdivided lengthwise by score-lines 4, 5, 6, into four hingedly-connected panels 7, 8, 9, 10. Along its upper margin, the sheet 3 is miter-cut to provide upwardly extending tabs 11, 12, which are, in effect, integral continuations of the panels 7, 10. The sheet 3 is also provided with somewhat longer tabs 13, 14, which are, in effect, integral continuations. of the panels 8, 9, and are folded reversely down upon the interior faces of the panels 8, 9. Along their lower or internal transverse margins the tabs 13, 14, are integrally provided with secondary upturned tabs 15, 16, respectively, which are adapted to fit underneath the downturned edges of the cuffs c of surgical gloves G, all as best seen in FIG. 4.

The tabs 13, 14, are also die-cut internally from their marginal edges in the provision of flaps 17, 18, which are inserted into the mouth of the glove-cuffs c, as best seen in FIG. 6. The panel 7 is provided with two trans verse slits 19, 20, which are adapted for retentively receiving the corner of a small rectangular envelope or packet 21 of surgical-glove powder. This packet is made of any suitable steam impervious waterproof material so that the powder will not be adversely affected by the humidity or temperature to which it is subjected when the packet A is sterilized in a suitable autoclave or other sterilizing unit.

In use, the rubber gloves G are washed in any conventional manner and the cuffs 0 turned down to the position shown in FIG. 4. The folding packet 2 is opened up flat and the gloves laid upon the panels 8, 9. The culls c are then slipped over the flaps 15, 16, respectively, and the tabs 17, 18, inserted so that each glove G is firmly and securely held in the manner shown in FIGS, 4 and 6.

The panels 7 and 10 are then folded over flatwise upon the gloves G about the score-lines 4, 6 to the position shown in FIG. 3. Thereupon, the packet 2 is folded over about the center score-line and placed upon the sheet 1 in the elf-center position as shown in FIG. 2, the dotted line d being intended to show the center-line of the sheet 1 so that the initial oif-center position will be more readily apparent. The comer-flaps f f F, of the sheet 1 are then folded over upon the packet 2 in any suitable order and the packet 2 is rolled up in the sheet 1 to form the completelyenclosed packet'A, as shown in FIG. 1. This packet may be suitably sealed with a piece of pressure sensitive tape 22, which preferably, though not necessarily, is treated with an indicator-compound capable of turning color when subject to steam sterilization. Such indicatorcompounds are well known and are, therefore, not specifically described herein. f

After the packet A has been sterilized it may be stored until time ofuse. During the storage period, the gloves will beeffectively and completely protected against contamination. When the packet A is to be opened the tape 22 is pulled back and the sheet 1 unrolled so'that the packet A is exposed, as shown in FIG. 2. Then the packet A is unfolded to the position shown in FIG. 3 so that the surgeon can conveniently remove the package of powder 21 and dust it upon his hands. It will, of course, be evident that the gloves are still fully protectedfrom inadvertent contact with the ungloved hands. Next, the tab 11 is manually gripped and the flap 7 is folded back to the position shown in FIG. 4, exposing only one glove G. The use of the tab 11 effectively prevents any accidental contamination of the first glove G which is being exposed through manipulation of the panel 7. The scrub nurse or surgeon can then lift out the first glove G, gripping it by the exposed surfaces of the turned-back cutie and thereby avoiding any contact with the sterile outer surfaces thereof. Then the tab 12 is grasped and the panel turned back, exposing thesecond glove G. 'Since one hand is now fully gloved, the second glove G can be handled by the gloved hand without danger of contamination.

Y The packet A and sheet 1. can'then be laid asideand returnedto the'sterilizer room for re-use. It has been found that the materials used in the packet A and sheet 1 are quite durable and will last through many successive sterilizations. Of course, the materials are relatively inexpensive and can also be discardedif economy is not important to thehospital administration.

It should be understood that changes and modifications. 1n. the form, construction, arrangement, and combination. of theseveral parts-of the means and methods for packaging surgical gloves may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the, nature and principle of my invention.

c Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A package for surgical gloves comprising an'inner cardboard folder in which a pair of surgical gloves may be enclosed, said folder being provided with flaps extending inwardly from transverse margins thereof, each of said flaps being bent back upon itself in the provision of a main tab which extends outwardly toward the transverse.

margins from which said flap extends, said flaps being adapted for retentive insertion under down-folded cults on the gloves, an auxiliary tab integrally formed on and opreatively associated with each flap, said auxiliary tab being attached to the flap between the end of the main tab with which it is associated and the transverse margin from which said flap extends, each of said auxiliary tabs extend ing inwardly into overlapping relation with respect to the main tab with which it is associated and being adapted for insertion into the wrist-portion of the glove in overlying relation to the flap with which it is associated, and an outer wrapper formed of steam-permeable parchment- V 4 ized paper, said wrapper being disposed enclosingly around the folder.

2. A package for surgical gloves comprising an inner cardboard folder including two hingedly-connected main panels, each such main panel being hingedly-connected along its outer margin to an auxiliary panel adapted to fold over upon the main panel to which it is attached and thereby form a pocket in which one glove of a pair of surgical gloves may be enclosed, each of said auxiliary panels having a projecting tab by which such panel may be grasped and manipulated without disturbing the other panels, each of said main panels being provided with a flap extending inwardly from transverse margins thereof, each of said flaps being bent back upon itself in the provision of a main tab which extends outwardly toward the transverse margins from which said flap extends, said flaps being adapted for retentive engagement under a down-folded end on a surgical glove, an auxiliary tab integrally formed on and operatively associated with each flap, said auxiliary tab being attached to the flap between the end of the main tab with which it is associated and the transverse margin from which said flap extends, each of said auxiliary tabs extending inwardly into overlapping relation with respect to the main tab with which it is associated and being adapted for insertion into the wrist-portion of the glove in overlying relation to the flap with which it is associated, and an outer wrapper formed of steam-permeable parchmentiz'ed paper, said wrapper being disposed enclosingly around the folder.

3. In a package for surgical gloves comprising an inner cardboard folder including two hingedly-connected main panels, each such main panel being hingedly-connected along its outer margin to an auxiliary panel adapted to fold over upon the main panel to which it is attached and thereby form a pocket in which one glove of a pair of surgical gloves may be enclosed, each of said auxiliary panels'having a projecting tab by which such panel may be grasped and manipulated without disturbing the other panels, each'of said main panels'being provided with a flap extending inwardly from a transverse margin of said main panel, each such flaps being integrally provided along its free margin with a reversely turned-up tab which extends outwardly toward the transverse margin from which such flap extends for retentive engagement under a downfolded cuff on a surgical glove, and an auxiliary tab integrally attached to and operatively associated with each flap, said auxiliary tab being attached to said flap when the end of the reversely turned-up tab with which it is associated and the transverse margin from which such flap overlapping relation with respect to the reversely turnedup tab with which it is associated and being adapted for insertion into the rear portion of the glove, the cult of which is inserted over the reversely turned-up tab.

4. A package for surgical gloves comprising a cardboard folder including two hingedly connected main panels, each such main panels being hingedly-connected along its outer margin to an auxiliary panel adapted to fold over upon the main panel to which it is attached and thereby form a pocket in which one glove of a pair of surgical gloves may be enclosed, each of said auxiliary panels having a projecting tab across one of its transverse margins by which said panel may be grasped and manipulated without disturbing the other panel, each of said main panels being pro vided across its upper transverse margins with an inwardly turned elongated flap having converging side margins and a transverse bottom margin which is substantially narrower than the upper portion of the flap along which it is connected to the main panel, said flap being folded back upon itself in the upward direction in the provision of a tab which is somewhat narrower than the portions of the flap on which the tab overlies so that said tab may be inserted readily under the folded down oufi portion of a surgical glove, thereby retentively engaging the surgical glove, each of said flaps furthermore being die-cut to provide an upstuuck auxiliary flap which can be bent upwardly out of the plane of the flap from which it is struck, said auxiliary flap being somewhat narrower than and extending downwardly with respect to the upturned cufl-engaging tab, said auxi- 2,634,856 Perkins Apr. 14, 1953 liary flap being adapted to enter into the cuif-mouth of the 5 2,709,518 Justin May 31, 1955 surgical glove and thereby stabilize the engagement be- 2,810,417 Yerk Oct. 22, 1957 tween the upturned cuff-engaging tab and the glove and at 2,833,399 Hartman May 6, 1958 the same time provide a guiding surface by which the 2,908,308 Dearholt Oct. 13, 1959 fingers of the user may be inserted into the glove when it 2,915,173 Langdon Dec. 1, 1959 is desired to don the glove. 10 2,936,881 Fulton May 17, 1960 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

